The London History Show: Horatio Nelson

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  • čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
  • In this video, we're looking at Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. Who is that guy and why is he stood on that big pole?
    In each episode of The London History Show, we'll be looking at a different statue, plaque, building or feature of London's landscape that you can find for yourself, and we'll tell its story. Watch the whole series here: tinyurl.com/ybzud2wm
    If you want to find the location of any London History Show episode for yourself, you can do that here: tinyurl.com/yc3ry3ku
    Join my patrons here: www.patreon.com/jdraperlondon
    Find my TikTok here: / jdraperlondon
    Book tours with me here: www.eventbrite.com/o/j-draper...
    00:00 Intro
    01:21 Working Up
    03:22 An Eye And An Arm
    07:00 Lady Hamilton
    12:41 Trafalgar
    15:12 A Corpse Pickled In Brandy
    Photos and sound provided under Creative Commons licence: creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Komentáře • 811

  • @TimTheWizard420
    @TimTheWizard420 Před 4 lety +750

    I love how you explained what a mistress is 😆

    • @JDraper
      @JDraper  Před 4 lety +453

      I have had it come up before in real life! I had a kid once who assumed it meant the same thing as "headmistress". So I had to come up with a kid-friendly way of explaining it.

    • @annaverena2415
      @annaverena2415 Před 3 lety +89

      Way better than them googeling it

    • @AnnoyingNewsletters
      @AnnoyingNewsletters Před rokem +162

      I always thought it was something between a mister and a mattress 😉

    • @glasscardproductions4736
      @glasscardproductions4736 Před rokem +37

      ​@@AnnoyingNewsletters, fittingly so.

    • @MixerRenegade95
      @MixerRenegade95 Před rokem +23

      @@AnnoyingNewsletters So sorry that is too funny!🤣

  • @rksnj6797
    @rksnj6797 Před rokem +413

    "One of the many countries we were at war with at the time", I love your facial expression when you say that line! Very interesting video!

    • @markfryer9880
      @markfryer9880 Před rokem +12

      Almost a T-shirt quote!

    • @barrocaspaula
      @barrocaspaula Před rokem +2

      I was asking myself the same.

    • @PhilMasters
      @PhilMasters Před rokem +6

      To be fair, a lot of them had found themselves fighting alongside France, with varying degrees of willingness.

    • @vr4787
      @vr4787 Před rokem +4

      The important thing is that I had an onion tied to my belt, which was the style at the time.

    • @eliedgecomb4903
      @eliedgecomb4903 Před 11 měsíci +1

      Hilarious

  • @monsterlair
    @monsterlair Před rokem +187

    Blackadder: I have a horrid suspicion that Baldrick’s plan will be the stupidest thing we’ve heard since Lord Nelson’s famous signal at the Battle of the Nile: “England knows Lady Hamilton is a virgin. Poke my eye out and cut off my arm if I’m wrong.”

    • @barrymantelli8011
      @barrymantelli8011 Před rokem +6

      💀

    • @deborahbranham-taylor6682
      @deborahbranham-taylor6682 Před rokem +6

      😂 I have to watch more Blackadder!

    • @monsterlair
      @monsterlair Před rokem +3

      @@deborahbranham-taylor6682 Yes you do! 😃

    • @monicacall7532
      @monicacall7532 Před rokem +4

      Hahaha! I love that Blackadder episode! I’m laughing just visualizing it in my mind.🤣

    • @almostfm
      @almostfm Před rokem +5

      Wasn't there also something about burying her in a Y-shaped coffin?

  • @Reubenwelsh
    @Reubenwelsh Před 3 lety +399

    haha i loved the repeating Boris pictures when talking about mistresses.
    Anyway, loving the content, and hope you are able to keep making these!

    • @freyamckenzie5583
      @freyamckenzie5583 Před 2 lety +13

      😂 Haha, I saw that too. Boris Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Donald Trump, King Charles ll , all Gemini ♊.

    • @CJonesApple
      @CJonesApple Před rokem +4

      Very subtle lol

    • @uncletiggermclaren7592
      @uncletiggermclaren7592 Před rokem +5

      Saw a couple of Kings in there too, it's good to be the King.

    • @Sky-pt6lc
      @Sky-pt6lc Před rokem +1

      So glad the mistress got nothing.

    • @comicus01
      @comicus01 Před rokem

      I saw Boris appear twice, but was he the only one to make two appearances? The images went by fast. JFK and King Charles were the other obvious ones I spotted.

  • @DERP_Squad
    @DERP_Squad Před rokem +318

    Nelson's uncle was on the officers exam board, but he didn't help Nelson to pass the board. He only mentioned that he was related to Nelson after the board had passed Nelson. When the other board members asked why he hadn't mentioned it, because they would have passed a relative of a friend, he said he was confident that Nelson would pass on his own merits, and wanted it to be Nelson's achievement alone.

    • @netsquall
      @netsquall Před rokem +31

      [citation needed]

    • @DERP_Squad
      @DERP_Squad Před rokem +24

      @@netsquall As per Drachinifel's video on Nelson's early career. That video is further referenced.

    • @rojavida
      @rojavida Před rokem +3

      I think it’s quite indicative of the age that someone would rather believe nepotism was clearly the case than to do research for themselves. “[citation needed]” is a direct contravention of the guidelines I’ve just had to click through.

    • @susannamarker2582
      @susannamarker2582 Před 11 měsíci

      Don't bother. This girl is too Woke to listen.

    • @stevenholt4936
      @stevenholt4936 Před 11 měsíci +4

      Privilege and class was not the case in the RN at this period.

  • @juanaltredo2974
    @juanaltredo2974 Před rokem +204

    as a collector I couldnt help but feel for poor lady hamilton's husband losing his vase collection, it honestly hit me harder than any death on your story

    • @Perez_studios
      @Perez_studios Před rokem +5

      Well, what are you collecting…

    • @juanaltredo2974
      @juanaltredo2974 Před rokem +7

      @@Perez_studios movies, blurays, 4ks, DVDs and also soundtracks

    • @PhilMasters
      @PhilMasters Před rokem +6

      It was his second or third collection. The earlier one included the Portland Vase, which you can still find in the British Museum.

    • @robert48719
      @robert48719 Před rokem

      @juanaltredo2974 Quite relatable, but what he was collecting were unique. DVDs you lost you could buy again

    • @shenghan9385
      @shenghan9385 Před 11 měsíci

      LoL

  • @fireyjon
    @fireyjon Před rokem +26

    I love referring to Cardinal Wolsey as "some guy" especially given the relation to one of England's most famous kings.

  • @kylebarbre4421
    @kylebarbre4421 Před rokem +25

    What I love about this examination is that it goes through this idea that a “hero” is often times closer to an Achilles than a Superman. Powerful. Grand in Scale. Autocratic. Violent.

    • @jgdooley2003
      @jgdooley2003 Před rokem +3

      I wonder was there a bit of a death wish in Nelson to stand on the deck of HMS Victory in full regalia knowing full well that snipers firing from the masts on platforms known as fighting tops was a well established tactic in naval warfare at the time.

    • @DERP_Squad
      @DERP_Squad Před rokem +4

      ​@John Dooley No death wish. It was what was expected and required in the time. The officers were expected to be visible to the crew in combat, partially to encourage the crew, but mainly to show that they were still in command and the vessel hadn't surrendered.
      In addition, it was the most effective place to command the vessel. Below decks, the senior officers wouldn't have been able to have good situational awareness, and orders would have taken too long to pass up the decks to be relevant in most cases. Even in the two world wars, British captains and admirals generally refused to command from the heavily armoured conning tower of their vessels, instead commanding from the bridge because of the much better situational awareness it afforded them. This was such a common occurrence that the British battleship designs tended to have significantly thinner armour on the conning tower than contemporary ships from other nations.

    • @PhilMasters
      @PhilMasters Před rokem +4

      Also, naval officers especially back then were a bit prone to a death-or-glory attitude. They weren’t all from as low level a background as Nelson, but they weren’t necessarily all that rich either - and if your ship captured an enemy ship in battle, you got prize money. There was a lot of “get rich or die trying” on the way up.

    • @azzamat001
      @azzamat001 Před 2 měsíci

      @@jgdooley2003 I suspect not so much a death wish, more the same sort of thing that had John Frost telling Anthony Hopkins on the set of 'A Bridge too Far' that British officers calmly walk when under fire, they never run.
      It's the mindset of setting an example for the 'lower orders'.
      If the men/grunts/lower ranks see the 'boss' not panicking (by standing or walking calmly while projectiles fly past their heads) then the idea is that the lower ranks will just assume everything is under control, therefore they will just get on with their jobs.
      A solid theory, but it is costly with regards to the lives of officers.
      Also it means that the lower ranks can see the 'priveledged officers' taking greater risks than is expected of the lower ranks, so that when the officer gives an order that requires risk on the part of the lower ranks they know that the officer would't ask them to take risks that he/she wouldn't take themselves if necessary.
      It builds trust and morale.

  • @stoutyyyy
    @stoutyyyy Před rokem +57

    There’s a great scene in Master and Commander after the young midshipman Blakeney loses an arm, the captain comes around and visits him in the sickbay, and hands him a book of great naval victories, open to a portrait of Nelson with an empty sleeve pinned to his chest. Sort of a nice fatherly moment from Jack, which even in the books is rarely seen.

    • @colinmontgomery1956
      @colinmontgomery1956 Před 7 měsíci +1

      And that moment is masterfully well directed by Weir and crafted by Crowe. You can see he genuinely cares for the boy and wants to shape him, but knows he can't be too familiar.

    • @cyberfutur5000
      @cyberfutur5000 Před 6 měsíci +3

      To be fair, one could argue the great scene in the movie goes from when it starts, to when it ends. Very good movie, indeed.

    • @eddiejc1
      @eddiejc1 Před 4 měsíci

      About that movie---if you' were wondering how the French were able to build a warship with American wood in an American harbo(u)r the book they were fighting an American ship in the original book. (It was during the War of 1812.) The producers changed it to a French ship because they didn't think American moviegoers would ever support a movie where the hero was fighting Americans.

    • @stoutyyyy
      @stoutyyyy Před 4 měsíci

      @@eddiejc1 To be fair the movie is basically a pastiche of several of the books

  • @elizamccroskey1708
    @elizamccroskey1708 Před rokem +58

    I just can't get enough of your humor!
    I have a cat named Lord Nelson, my friend helped me name him even though she was not aware he has limited sight in one eye and a bum front leg. He was a feral cat I watched have many battles in my Boston MA back yard.

    • @Ami-jc2oo
      @Ami-jc2oo Před rokem +4

      Nelson fits him!! Say hi to him for me!! :D I'm serious--

  • @davidshepherd397
    @davidshepherd397 Před rokem +85

    He also tried to make sailors lives a little better, but most of all he was a brilliant naval tactician, he saw opportunities and took them.

    • @constancemiller3753
      @constancemiller3753 Před rokem +14

      Heating up the knives of surgery may have saved lives too. Less nasty germs and filth when lopping off bits of sailors.

  • @garethgriffiths1674
    @garethgriffiths1674 Před rokem +54

    Superbly informative and entertaining. On the matter of Nelson memorabilia: Nelson and Emma would go together to the town of Monmouth, on the Wales-England border. A local aristocrat Lady Llangattock (mother of Charles Rolls, of Rolls Royce fame) kept a huge collection of Nelson memorabilia including love letters between Emma and Horatio. The collection was donated to the town, which became the Nelson Museum (still there today), and they also built yet another of those Nelson memorials, this time on the highest hill overlooking the town, the so-called Nelson naval temple.

  • @lizyarikus
    @lizyarikus Před rokem +43

    I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO TURN ALL ASK A MORTICIAN-Y IN THE END
    Anyway you're amazing and I found out that the love I have for you in short format is nothing on the love I have for you in full essay so I'm marathoning your stuff. Thanks for everything you do.

  • @davidford85
    @davidford85 Před rokem +65

    Nelson was a deeply flawed individual, a lot of military heroes are, especially it could be said our naval heroes, who tended to have something of a piratical nature about them. Drake is a prime example of this, he was literally a pirate, he even ran off while fighting the Spanish Armada to go do some looting.
    You mentioned about him disobeying orders at the Battle of Copenhagen, it wasn't the only time he disobeyed orders. Another notable example was one of the other battles you mentioned, the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, where he broke the order to follow in line and chose instead to charge into the enemy fleet.
    However it should be noted that at the time and even today, that while you are expected to follow orders, you're also expected to use your own brain and adapt to the situation, even if that might mean disobeying orders. Of course if you do disobey an order, you had better be right, and preferably victorious, otherwise your military career will be over fairly quickly.
    At the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, he broke orders because he realised unless the Spanish ships were slowed the British ships would likely not be able to catch them back up after their first pass, so he took his ship out of line and engaged the Spanish ships directly, thereby allowing the rest of the British fleet to catch back up. If it hadn't been for his actions, the battle probably would have been indecisive.
    At the Battle of Copenhagen, the order to retreat was actually sent to protect Nelson. The British fleet had split into two for the battle, with the ships with shallower drafts being sent in under the command of Nelson, while the heavier ships stayed with Admiral Parker, who was in overall command. Unfortunately three of the British ships would still run aground during the battle and with the gun smoke obscuring Parker's view of the battle, he began to think that Nelson might be in trouble and unable to withdraw due to the Articles of War. Thus, as he told his Flag Captain: "I will make the signal of recall for Nelson's sake. If he is in condition to continue the action, he will disregard it; if he is not, it will be an excuse for his retreat and no blame can be imputed to him.".

    • @rsfaeges5298
      @rsfaeges5298 Před rokem +6

      That is awesome!

    • @ulrikschackmeyer848
      @ulrikschackmeyer848 Před 8 měsíci +8

      Very nice to know the archival facts. As a local, Copenhagen historian we don't often focus on seeing it from Nelson's point of view.
      On another note, after the victory, he went into the city, and at Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory, all ready famous at the time (then situated in Købmagergade just east of Trinity Church) the ordered and bought a full set of China....for Lady Hamilton.

  • @RIBill
    @RIBill Před rokem +10

    I know this is 2 years old, but I thought this might be an appreciated fact. In the Officer's Mess in Portsmouth, there is a portrait of Nelson at one end of the hall. At the far end, there is a portrait of his mistress. The story goes, that distance was as close as they were allowed to come in society.

  • @Mathemagical55
    @Mathemagical55 Před rokem +42

    Just a minor correction: Emma died in Calais aged 49 in 1815, not in 1849.

    • @WolfbloodJakeWilliams
      @WolfbloodJakeWilliams Před 10 měsíci +3

      Also, another commonly quoted version of Nelson's last words are 'drink drink, fan fan, rub rub'; instructions given to the men who were providing him a drink, fanning him, and rubbing ointment into the wound. As an addition, the quote of 'God bless you Hardy' doesn't become any less gay than 'kiss me Hardy' when you learn the reason for him saying it: the account claims he said 'kiss me Hardy' to which Hardy kissed him on the forehead, Nelson then said 'now I am satisfied', Hardy then kissed him on the lips so he asked 'who was that?' and upon realising it was Hardy again said 'God bless you Hardy.'

  • @davidralphs6429
    @davidralphs6429 Před rokem +22

    Coming from Portsmouth, I’ve been brought up thinking of Nelson as a pure hero and so the ‘other’ side to his life is fascinating here. I have a portrait of him on my wall in France and so can add a few extra anecdotes when exposing his background. Interestingly, they are taught in Antigua that he died on the island of malaria, I suppose just to hang on to the coat tails of his fame.

    • @gengis737
      @gengis737 Před rokem +3

      Tropical fevers were so murderous, and after the admiral, Nelson was such a popular name, that some Nelsons probably died in Antigua.

    • @dariusanderton3760
      @dariusanderton3760 Před rokem +2

      I have never heard of the Island of Malaria. Sounds like an unpleasant place. 😆

    • @gengis737
      @gengis737 Před rokem +3

      @@dariusanderton3760 By that time Antilles were collectively known as "the fever islands". Malaria and Yellow Fever, both unexplained before understanding viruses and their vector, mosquitoes,, could kill scores of Europeans by day. One British regiment sent there lost 2/3rd of its officers in a year. So UK organized regiments of locals in Antilles and Africa, more resistant to the tropical disease.

  • @monicacall7532
    @monicacall7532 Před rokem +23

    You are a brilliant storyteller! If only all history teachers were as interesting, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subject matter! History would be everyone’s favorite subject in school and perhaps today’s society wouldn’t be making so many stupid, wrongheaded mistakes and decisions that could’ve been avoided because the leaders, decision makers and society in general would’ve actually paid attention in their history classes and learned so many invaluable lessons.
    Fortunately for me, my dad taught me to love history from an early age, and the best teachers I had from age 9-18 whilst in school were my history teachers. Lucky me!

    • @ulrikschackmeyer848
      @ulrikschackmeyer848 Před 7 měsíci

      We few, we happy few that carry the torch of legacy forward.
      My father imbued me with tall tales of Danish kings and naval heroes. Today I have a sideline as a part time Copenhagen local historian and guide. Lucky us, in deed.

  • @robertreed7767
    @robertreed7767 Před rokem +63

    This channel is amazing. I'm a 34 year old gay man living in a very small town in rural Missouri, In the USA - my partner and I love your sense of humor and the way you edit your videos. Informative and entertaining, I've never wanted to learn the history of another country so much!

  • @Kid_Ikaris
    @Kid_Ikaris Před rokem +81

    It's not just about losing your collection. It's knowing you caused all that great work to be destroyed. I feel for the guy.

    • @isagrace4260
      @isagrace4260 Před 7 měsíci +2

      And presumably this tragedy for a love on top of knowing you’re third wheel to your wife’s liaison with a naval war hero. So many losses at once…

    • @mechanicaldavid4827
      @mechanicaldavid4827 Před 3 měsíci +3

      Very hard on an aristocrat to lose vase.

    • @Kid_Ikaris
      @Kid_Ikaris Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@mechanicaldavid4827 True, but then again without the metaphorical vase what is left of the aristocrat?

  • @DL-by4tq
    @DL-by4tq Před 6 měsíci +3

    i am from NAples and i am speechless i never knew how much connection we have with england and who lived there, when. and how, it's fascinating. thank you

  • @lillianb8762
    @lillianb8762 Před 6 dny

    The *mistress* explanation and the visuals accompanying... *chef's kiss*

  • @mireillelebeau2513
    @mireillelebeau2513 Před rokem +9

    Only in Montréal, Canada, can you see "La colonne Nelson" a monument to honour Horatio Nelson paid by French Montrealer and English Montrealer merchants in 1809. The statute was ordered to Robert Mitchell, a Londonnian architect.

  • @776281
    @776281 Před rokem +34

    We always want to see our heroes as completely virtuous and our villains as complete reprobates. Neither is ever true. Your explanations of both sides of the man is wonderful.

    • @ChoppingtonOtter
      @ChoppingtonOtter Před rokem +5

      I always think that if our heroes have human flaws then there is hope for us too!

    • @Ami-jc2oo
      @Ami-jc2oo Před rokem +1

      ​@@ChoppingtonOtterThat's a nice way of looking at it.

  • @PS-pp7kn
    @PS-pp7kn Před rokem +29

    Your dialectic approach to shed light from both sides on the man is greatly appreciated. Yesterday a hero, a villain today.

    • @allthenewsordeath5772
      @allthenewsordeath5772 Před rokem +16

      Call grim indeed the nation which casts down its heroes in scorn, no man is perfectly virtuous, but it is virtues which we admire in men.

    • @angrytedtalks
      @angrytedtalks Před rokem +2

      No, not a villain. A patriot.
      Slavery was abolished decades after Nelson's death. His military success has led to peace. When you defeat all your enemies, peace can exist.

    • @doubleT84
      @doubleT84 Před rokem +3

      Can't call him a villain from a historical view, can't apply today's standards onto people from centuries ago.

    • @PhilMasters
      @PhilMasters Před rokem +4

      Even by the standards of the time, he was a conservative, even a reactionary. (There were plenty of people around at the time who could see that slavery was horrible.) But he was a very committed military leader in a war against a revolutionary foreign power. That tends to breed reactionary attitudes.

    • @weir9996
      @weir9996 Před 11 měsíci +4

      @@doubleT84 It's not just today's standards though, plenty of people at the time were against slavery

  • @gabrielleordane4241
    @gabrielleordane4241 Před rokem +6

    I love how you explained mistresses! You are an excellent teacher.

  • @christianellegaard7120
    @christianellegaard7120 Před rokem +12

    After chapter two "An Eye and an Arm" he really had no choice. He basically had to become a naval hero.
    I guess he was fortunate that he then became The Naval Hero.

  • @charlotteillustration5778

    My four times great grandfather was one of those midshipmen with Nelson, and became one of his band of brothers. But they fell out when Nelson met Emma in Naples, as my ancestor had just heard news that his own wife had died and deeply disapproved of their liaison. I grew up surrounded by paintings of ships.

    • @Apollo890
      @Apollo890 Před 6 měsíci

      Was he Sir Thomas Troubridge by any chance?

  • @mewintle
    @mewintle Před rokem +7

    Probably the best of J’s videos. Fantastic and incredibly fun! I’m a tour guide at the Thomas Edison Labs and I’m always delighting at her presentation that keeps you completely interested and engaged.

  • @mattw5265
    @mattw5265 Před rokem +40

    This channel has become a fast favorite. The tongue in cheek humour is brilliant as well. And the history is nfg honesty. Thank you.

  • @johnbee7729
    @johnbee7729 Před rokem +6

    I really want to re-watch this, but have a counter to calculate how many times it is said "one of the many countries we were at war with at that time ,,,,". Brilliant and thank you. :)

  • @Georgicallender
    @Georgicallender Před 4 měsíci +1

    Heya! I'm a historic tour guide from Barbados. I just recently found your page and love learning the history from the otherside.
    With that said we have/had a trafalgar square and Nelson Statue in Barbados. Actually ours (Statue and square) predates London's by 27 years. Our Nelson was erected in 1813.
    They say it was the plantocracy of Barbados who decided to make such a visual honorific to Nelson.

  • @TheFarukbih
    @TheFarukbih Před rokem +9

    Speaking of the barrel, there is a old sea shanty called "a drop of Nelson's blood"

  • @shlomster6256
    @shlomster6256 Před 3 měsíci +3

    Awesome, very well presented. Wow. Love these. And yes, "Mistress" definitions FTW.

  • @tweekins
    @tweekins Před 2 měsíci

    "Like an 18th century cosplay girl."
    That caught me so off guard, I can't stop chuckling. What a fantastic explanation.

  • @EuropeYear1917
    @EuropeYear1917 Před rokem +31

    Great video!
    Cheers from a history buff in America… one of the many countries you were at war with at the time!

  • @FrancoisGasnier71
    @FrancoisGasnier71 Před rokem +2

    As a french man, I can tell you Napoleon is still very relevant on what France is today. And Nelson defeated him! He certainly shaped the today's UK.

  • @Lynn-vs4uu
    @Lynn-vs4uu Před rokem +10

    I loved the Horatio Hornblower books, Nelson obviously greatly inspired them, even down to the cheating 😆

    • @1337flite
      @1337flite Před rokem +1

      Me too. I wonder if Nelson was sea sick off Spithead?

    • @mpetersen6
      @mpetersen6 Před 9 měsíci

      I think Cochrane was bigger inspiration. Certainly for Lucky Jack Aubry.

  • @tremorsfan
    @tremorsfan Před 10 měsíci +1

    Seeing Noakes on top of the Column makes you really appreciate the size of the statue.

  • @martindever4387
    @martindever4387 Před rokem +16

    That was a very comprehensive biography of Nelson packed into a tidy 18 minutes and 52 seconds. Love your accent and your diction! I see that you haven’t made videos in a while hopefully you’ll make some soon!

  • @dalenesbitt
    @dalenesbitt Před rokem +5

    I was recently on St. Kitts where you can see Nevis nearby. Our tour guide asked who the most famous person from Nevis was. I obviously answered "Frances Nisbet". That was apparently the wrong answer.

  • @fallowed
    @fallowed Před měsícem

    As Nelson is a visitor in your town, I get the complacency. But loving history and growing up in the home of the Navy, Pompey, I only have to cast my eyes on the Solent and see the forts built not just on the hill but in the middle of the wight channel. Palmerston's follies, to see how feared those across the English channel were. 1805 was a relief for England, we were safe. Entirely in 1815.

  • @thomassiembor3507
    @thomassiembor3507 Před rokem +2

    Thank you for this! History had never had such an adorably witty narrator!

  • @jamesdrudge
    @jamesdrudge Před 11 měsíci +1

    I love the version of his funeral in the Horatio Hornblower novels, where the barge is sinking while Nelson's body is transported up the river to the ceremony.

  • @remaguire
    @remaguire Před 11 měsíci +2

    Years ago, I took a boat tour of the Thames and London. Very interesting. At one point, we passed what the guide said was Nelson's home and he mentioned that the ship in front of Nelson's abode was a French sailing ship. He also mentioned that the Admiral was quite the Francophobe and was more than likely continuously spinning in his grave at the thought of a French ship in his front yard! Admittedly, the tour guide may have been shining us on, but it was very funny.
    While in London, I also spent a very enjoyable day at Greenwich. As a naval officer who used Greenwich Mean Time in my daily working life, of course I got my photo as I straddled the Prime Meridian and then headed to the National Maritime Museum which is one of the finest I have ever been to. Most highly recommended for a visit.

    • @phoenixrose1192
      @phoenixrose1192 Před 7 měsíci

      He hated republicans, not necessarily the French.

  • @admthrawnuru
    @admthrawnuru Před rokem +2

    I know it's irreverent, but I always chuckle at how many "last words" are attributed to Nelson. I always picture him there, knowing he's dying and coming up with some poignant saying only to realize 5 minutes later that he's still alive and having to come up with another over and over.

  • @garryt6356
    @garryt6356 Před 2 měsíci

    Thanks for giving us a great insight into Nelson! Thoroughly captivating!

  • @ariannamyrie9520
    @ariannamyrie9520 Před rokem +1

    So happy to learn about my great grandfather 😊😊😊😊😊 It allows me to be more aware and mitigates the grand mythos. I truly believe that one should have a balanced view of their ancestors and historical figures.

  • @jamiengo2343
    @jamiengo2343 Před 3 lety +5

    Greatest hero in British history

  • @heronimousbrapson863
    @heronimousbrapson863 Před rokem +3

    Fort Nelson, British Columbia is named for him as well. However Nelson (also in British Columbia) was named for someone else with the same name, although one of the local schools there is named Trafalgar after the famous battle.

  • @skyrocketcoast219
    @skyrocketcoast219 Před rokem +1

    Your video on Nelson is epicly well done!! A friend of mine, found out, that a many times back - great grand dad's was a man that was a pursur on a ship that was in the battle of Trafalgar. He survived the battle. Came home to England and married an aristocrat's daughter. From that marriage ,my friend was a decendant of the 3rd son, who sailed to Australia with his bride of 2 days!

  • @AaronMichaelLong
    @AaronMichaelLong Před rokem +1

    I have read that when Nelson asked the signal flags to be hoisted before the battle, he asked to say "England *confides* that every man will do his duty", but the signalman suggested 'expect' because it would be one flag instead of raising one letter at a time (like duty). So, the line is more an expression of trust.

  • @torpedohippo8493
    @torpedohippo8493 Před měsícem

    I'm a little drunk, and that "... Or Fanny... Nice..." Fucking left me in stitches haha

  • @roberthudson1959
    @roberthudson1959 Před rokem +25

    Two things about Nelson's death: first of all, British admirals were expected to wear their dress uniforms in battle so that they could be visible to their sailors; second, the French sniper was lucky more than skilled. Given the movement of the two ships and the uneven time lag between the trigger being pulled and the weapon discharging, just hitting the deck was good shooting.

    • @gerarddelmonte8776
      @gerarddelmonte8776 Před rokem +6

      Except that Trafalgar was fought in very light winds, and both Victory and Redoubtable were very large ships. They would have been moving slowly and almost stationary to each other. So lucky? Maybe, but it wasn't like it was a really difficult shot. Supposedly the French sniper then got picked off by a Brit sailor firing from Victory's deck.

    • @jonathanwebster7091
      @jonathanwebster7091 Před rokem +2

      Technically, the uniform Nelson wore at Trafalgar was his undress uniform (as it was known in the 1795 Royal Navy uniform regulations), not his full dress uniform (referred to as 'full dress' or 'dress' in the 1795 dress regs).
      The undress was the working uniform for commissioned officers in the Royal Navy at the time-the full dress, or dress uniform, was for special occasions.
      The difference between the two was that the full dress uniform had more gold lace (mainly on the lapels), whereas the undress uniform only had lace on the cuffs.
      On the other hand though, Nelson made a point of wearing all the medals, orders and decorations he was entitled to (he wore four 'stars' of his orders in total, namely the Orders of the Bath, Crescent, St. Joachim and St. Ferdinand), as well as the diamond Chelengk (a jewelled decoration conferred by the Ottoman Sultan) in his cocked hat. Which obviously made him an obvious target for marksmen. Although given the accuracy of smooth-bore firearms at the time, in my opinion, it was probably just a lucky shot.
      Note that he didn't *have* to wear those decorations on his undress uniform (most officers wouldn't), he just chose to.

    • @gengis737
      @gengis737 Před rokem +5

      Nelson's bad luck was that is opponent, captain Lucas, specifically trained his crew to take enemy ship by boarding. Nelson had given a great example of how effective it could be, capturing two Spanish ships at St Vincent. And Lucas would rather bet on his more numerous crew to prevail at close combat than contest British superiority at short range gunnery.
      So Redoutable's tactic was to have additional fighters in the upper parts, showering Victory's deck with grenades and collective musket fire. That's when Nelson was mortally wounded, and a good share of the crew on upper deck with him. Second part of Lucas' plan did not go well, as the Victory was one deck higher, the assault was delayed and French crew concentrated on the few available gangways. Only to be wiped out by the broadside of the next British ship coming. Nelson's maneuver prevailed on individual ship's valor.
      So individual claim of shooting down Nelson is dubious, but having him shot was well-thought tactic, not sheer luck.

  • @johnsonrob
    @johnsonrob Před rokem +4

    Oh... I really do love your videos - almost subliminal flashes of Boris abound!
    I'm a naval history gazer, often visiting historical dockyards (what an anorak), but still learned something new from this video - as I always seem to with your works).

  • @RobotShield
    @RobotShield Před 4 lety +8

    Thought I’d just have a quick look. Couldn’t stop watching. Thanks

  • @markevely1583
    @markevely1583 Před rokem +1

    A brilliant and comprehensive explanation. Clear, concise, covering both the dramatic and sensitive or controversial aspects of the story.

  • @kadaverf
    @kadaverf Před rokem +6

    Thank you very much for these videos! I am learning a lot about your british history since i found your channel. I wish you all the best from Holland, one of the many countries the UK has been at war with :p

    • @memkiii
      @memkiii Před 6 měsíci

      Holland was a cheeky opponent. Who else had the nerve to sail a fleet up the Thames?

  • @mjgbabydragonlet
    @mjgbabydragonlet Před rokem +13

    I truly enjoy your energy, while learning more about British history. I love the UK. My Dad had several diplomatic postings (we are Americans), and we were always given a week or two in the UK before returning to the USA. I think it was to help us transition into English, as well as being debriefed, and given a chance to have fun without fear of creating a diplomatic situation. The best trip to the UK was after a year in Moscow. Where the KGB had the diplomatic apartments bugged, where we were never allowed to freely do anything, between Embassy guards and FSB "minders". The positive of spending a year in the USSR, was I got to see many amazing artists of Russian Ballet. I am very glad the USA and UK remain on good terms. London has amazing museums, beautiful architecture, and so much beauty in your diverse natural topography. I have a passion for old books...Not ones just to sit on the shelves, but ones I read often. London has always been my favorite place to hunt for treasures for my personal library. When I cross the pond, I make sure I get to see the Royal Ballet perform...

  • @Someone2gooification
    @Someone2gooification Před rokem +4

    What a fantastic and well presented video. Thank you for taking the time to make that, I very much enjoyed it. You’ve found a new subscriber

  • @penfold5095
    @penfold5095 Před 3 lety +6

    You had me in a 'Half Nelson' of captivation with your video.

  • @PhilMasters
    @PhilMasters Před rokem +4

    There was a weird story from the Duke of Wellington when someone asked him years later if he had ever met Nelson; the answer was “Once”. They bumped into each other at the War Office, and Nelson spent the first ten or twenty minutes talking about nothing but Nelson and how wonderful he was. Then he found out who he was talking to (another military commander who could equal him for military genius and glory) and Wellington said he’d never seen a man change so completely in an instant. The second half of the conversation was an intelligent, thoughtful discussion of the strategic situation in the war with France.
    Nelson was a great commander who gave the Royal Navy a tradition of victory, but he was also a celebrity who was 100% aware of his own star status.

    • @lordeden2732
      @lordeden2732 Před 6 měsíci

      My ancestor would dispute that story. As he wrote about his service with Nelson as bring an incredibly modest gentleman.
      Who was highly embarrassed by Hero worship.
      So I claim fairy tale.

  • @Shelliemaie78
    @Shelliemaie78 Před 9 měsíci

    I really admire the way you told this story. The way you organized each section kept things both interesting and informative. Thank you for the hard work!

  • @robertgerrity878
    @robertgerrity878 Před rokem +5

    Note- fellow sea captain Prince William (later KW4) gave the bride away at the Nevis ceremony. Best buddies then. When he learned about Emma, never spoke to HN again.
    And HORATIA? I know I can look it up but Emma's fate is not the only pathetic epilog to HN's life.
    And Hollywood's early 40s movie That Hamilton Woman starring Scarlet O'Hara (brain freeze here).
    Very enjoyable. Keep it up.

    • @warwicktaylor347
      @warwicktaylor347 Před rokem

      en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatia_Nelson ...not too pathetic, but more of the story for sure.

    • @bycromwellshelmet2369
      @bycromwellshelmet2369 Před rokem

      Vivien Leigh? (I'm 75, my brain occasionally dies before suddenly springing back to life!)

  • @10pmixupuk65
    @10pmixupuk65 Před rokem

    The best summation of Nelson's life that I've seen; I learned a few things too.
    Your presentation style is perfect.

  • @pmfx65
    @pmfx65 Před rokem +4

    I just found your channel.
    You are such a brilliant story teller and ist a joy to listen to you!
    Thank you!

  • @jamesroach6348
    @jamesroach6348 Před 7 měsíci

    I love how enthusiastic and passionate you are in your story telling! You make it really enjoyable.

  • @davidyoung745
    @davidyoung745 Před rokem

    Great work! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels.

  • @jackee-is-silent2938
    @jackee-is-silent2938 Před 11 měsíci +1

    At Trafalgar, Nelson had wanted the signal to be "England confides in everyone to do their duty." but there wasn't a short signal form for "confides" and it would have to be spelt out letter by letter, so it was changed to "expects", which did have a short form.

  • @josephmiceli274
    @josephmiceli274 Před rokem +1

    I am so glad I chanced upon your channel! As a citizen of the U.S., I've been meaning to study the history of Great Britain for a long time. Your wonderful programs are MUCH better than some dusty old book!!!

  • @andywomack3414
    @andywomack3414 Před 5 měsíci +1

    "The Volcano Lover" by Susan Sontag, A rather unusual and very interesting novel about William Hamilton, Emma, and Nelson in Naples.

  • @PortsladeBySea
    @PortsladeBySea Před rokem +1

    Excellent presentation. When I visit London I always try and visit Trafalgar Square. The walk down Whitehall, to the Houses of Parliament, is well worth the effort and full of history and wonderful architecture 🇬🇧

  • @ecidaho
    @ecidaho Před rokem

    What a great recounting of H. Nelson. Great video! I really enjoy your work! Carry on! Cheers from Idaho!

  • @pjkhunold
    @pjkhunold Před rokem +2

    The bullet that killed Nelson was kept by ship's surgeon of the Victory named William Beatty, put in a golden amulett with the fabric of the uniform still connected to it. It was later presented by Beatty's heirs to Queen Victoria. It's still part of the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle.
    For pictures google "Nelson's bullet".
    Beatty wrote a very interesting report titled A True Account of the Death of Lord Nelson. At the bicentenary of Trafalgar Channel 4 made a remarkable documentary out of it: "Trafalgar: Battle Surgeon" - the whole fight seen from Beatty's perspective at the sickbay. You'll find it on YT.
    Great content! Good work!
    Greetings from Berlin!

  • @DavidWilliams-DSW558
    @DavidWilliams-DSW558 Před rokem +1

    One of the most important things I learned at primary school was "Every man must do his duty".

  • @skyetoddmakeup
    @skyetoddmakeup Před rokem +3

    Omfg the Boris Johnson shade made me cackle.

  • @telsurrey1
    @telsurrey1 Před rokem +2

    I love your presentations! I know it’s a 'London history', but you could have mentioned that HMS Victory is worth a visit to Portsmouth. It’s an incredible experience to look around the ship, and you soon realise why young lads were made midshipmen. It was to carry messages all round the ship, especially in battle. Grown men were too tall to cope with the low ceilings of the ship. Be careful about bumping your head if you do visit! And you can stand on the actual spot where Nelson died.

  • @kenc2257
    @kenc2257 Před rokem +1

    Learned a lot about Nelson from your video. Enjoyed this very much.

  • @Arrowdodger
    @Arrowdodger Před 7 měsíci

    I love how you dress up for your videos, both for the fun factor and because it's kind of impressive how you manage to pull all of the looks off so well!

  • @leopoldbloom4835
    @leopoldbloom4835 Před rokem +1

    I really would have enjoyed you signing the shanty „A drop of Nelson‘s blood wouldn’t do us any harm…!“

  • @PRWolf
    @PRWolf Před rokem +8

    I love you’re channel so much and it’s just so wonderfully wholesome history

    • @PRWolf
      @PRWolf Před rokem

      Wholesome history presenting I should say haha! Not necessarily the historical topics!

  • @jdranetz
    @jdranetz Před rokem +9

    I think Emma was Hamilton's "beard". He did collect vases, after all.

    • @SenshiSunPower
      @SenshiSunPower Před rokem

      Emma Hamilton appears to be Sir William Hamilton's second wife. His first wife, Catherine, also had a happy relationship, but no children. Emma had two children, both with other people. I'm not familiar enough with the culture at the time to say if that would have been indicative.

    • @ChoppingtonOtter
      @ChoppingtonOtter Před rokem

      Its an interesting idea actually.

    • @PhilMasters
      @PhilMasters Před rokem

      @@SenshiSunPower Emma was palmed off on Lord Hamilton by her previous lover, Hamilton’s nephew I believe. She probably felt used, but Hamilton was rich and she… really wasn’t. And there’s no fool like an old fool. Though Hamilton mostly seems to have been a nice enough guy.

  • @bjarkih1977
    @bjarkih1977 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Love that you put Boris Johnson up twice on the list of people keeping mistresses.

  • @CapZap17
    @CapZap17 Před rokem

    Greatly enjoyed this one. Keep it up!

  • @morenofranco9235
    @morenofranco9235 Před rokem

    I love your programs, J. You have made my day!

  • @William-Marshall
    @William-Marshall Před rokem

    Thank you, most entertaining , history , some I was unaware of, especially enjoyable.

  • @grahamholmes9737
    @grahamholmes9737 Před rokem

    Wow... I enjoy your videos and shorts. I'm from Canada and have always want wanted to visit London - you make it so exciting

  • @kevinmcgrane4279
    @kevinmcgrane4279 Před rokem

    Just subscribed to this channel. So glad I did. Interesting, informative, definitely entertaining. Well done!

  • @ashishmisra6973
    @ashishmisra6973 Před 6 měsíci

    I didn’t realise up until this video what a talent for comedic timing you have. What an outstanding video, well done. By the way, pickling cadavers in alcohol was fairly prevalent. Pub landlords used to sell these to medical students for their study of human anatomy. It’s where the term “rot gut whisky” comes from

  • @Adolfop1976
    @Adolfop1976 Před rokem

    Great post J, I loved it!

  • @tomstem1
    @tomstem1 Před rokem +1

    You are awesome. I’m a voracious history person not enough people pay attention to history. It seems like not as many women pay attention to history. My lady friends are often quite bored. However, it’s good to see a leader and a woman such as yourself show how fun history can be. You’re one of my heroes now I’m sorry I didn’t discover you earlier.

    • @deborahbranham-taylor6682
      @deborahbranham-taylor6682 Před rokem +2

      Not true! There is a huge community of female history buffs! Find some new friends who are likeminded!

  • @Iluvthe1960s
    @Iluvthe1960s Před rokem

    Just joined your channel….. brilliant! I have loved history since I was 9 (I’m now 66) I’ve been thinking about starting a history channel for ages (I have had a music channel for years) and now I’m going to I don’t expect to be as successful as you but it will be a labour of love. Thank you so much keep on with the brilliant videos!

  • @joecaner
    @joecaner Před rokem +1

    _"I polished up that handle so carefullee That now I am the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee."_
    ― Gilbert And Sullivan

  • @JonathanShidler
    @JonathanShidler Před rokem

    Found your channel via shorts. And never have I been so glad to stumble upon someone.

  • @Jsi01
    @Jsi01 Před 7 měsíci +1

    ‘Defeating the French isn’t central to who we want to be as a country anymore’, speak for yourself Draper!
    Amazing video though, really loving this channel .

  • @conmckfly
    @conmckfly Před rokem

    You are SO entertaining. Your stories are always fascinating. 😊😊😊

  • @DanielWright-np3fq
    @DanielWright-np3fq Před 9 měsíci

    Like many, I knew the dry facts of Admiral Nelson, but you really make it gripping and interesting. I am such a fan of your channel. Thank you!

  • @ziigy4545
    @ziigy4545 Před 11 měsíci +1

    A bit late getting here, but grateful I arrived nonetheless. You are a wonderful storyteller, but with facts rather than fancies. Thank you!

  • @stuartgibbel
    @stuartgibbel Před rokem

    Another great video. So much info that I did not know. Thanks.

  • @michaeleisenbise4278
    @michaeleisenbise4278 Před 7 měsíci

    Great information. Thanks so much for the video.